I Heart Arlo

“I Heart Arlo” is an American 2D animated show that premiered in August 2021 on Netflix. It is a follow-up to the animated feature film “Arlo the Alligator Boy”, but you don’t need to have watched the movie to be able to follow the show. At the end of the movie, Arlo finds several friends who are all lost and confused, just like him. They all have unique personalities and circumstances, and they are all able to support each other.

The series follows the daily adventures of Arlo and his newfound bunch of friends, who move house to the run-down town of Seaside by the Seashore and pledge to restore it to its former grandeur. Amongst Arlo’s friends, you’ll find Tony, a mouse that runs the local pizzeria, Marcellus, who is half man and half fish and Bertie, a large lady who is the only human being in the neighborhood.

During their efforts to revive the town, Arlo and his friends come across various issues and problems that most people can relate to.

The series covers themes such as friendship, love and acceptance, but also touches on sexual identification and self-discovery. Although it is presented as a children’s show, some of the themes are more geared towards a teenage audience. “I Heart Arlo” conveys a message of being comfortable in your own skin, accepting yourself with all your flaws and the necessity to surround yourself with positive influences to be able to grow as a human being.

The soundtrack of the series is very powerful and absolutely amazing. The music perfectly follows the storyline, with each song capturing the mood of the moment. Singers Michael J. Woodard and Mary Lambert lend their voices to Arlo and Bertie respectively, lifting the whole series to an entire new level.